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Philippines (Tony Salvador) |
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Moreover, many companies are using globalization in order
to threaten workers with the closure of business establishments.
Companies are also becoming very strict in monitoring the efficiency and productivity of
workers. Unfortunately, they use these in order to a give semblance of legality to the
dismissal.
The entire concept of doing business is changing: core-periphery hiring, subcontracting,
re-location of factories where the cost of labor is lowest.
This is further aggravated by high technology which has caused the loss of jobs since
businesses need less and less employees.
Government should improve social services, including the provision of safety nets for
those who lose their jobs. However, the government has no political will. IT has also been
observed that it has become difficult to
borrow money from the Social Security System since the latter seem to short of cash.
The participants opine that globalization is a system crafted by businesspersons around
the world in order to benefit corporate interests.
Hence, business is further improving its capability to
increase its profits.
Unfortunately, the government plunged us into globalization without the necessary
preparation such as improvement of our industries, safety nets for workers, protection of
vulnerable industries. Worse, its policies aggravate even further the adverse effects of
globalization: a bank dedicated to rural development gives loans to companies in order to
build
golf course; and the government has not done anything to address the issue of
casualisation and contractualization of labor, even as security of tenure has in recent
years become the most serious problem of the labor sector.
Since it cannot provide adequate employment opportunities, the government continues with
the policy of sending different kinds of Filipino workers, including seafarers, maids,
factory workers, clerical employees, technical
employees, etc.
It is very difficult to organize since workers automatically associate unions with loss of
jobs. Thus, they do not trust in the union or in its ability to fight for their rights.
But at the same time, there are still a lot of workers who have faith in the ability of
unions to defend workers' rights. Still, the rate of unionization is very low. Workers
have less trust in unions, and are scared that they will lose their jobs should they join
unions.
The government is implementing trade liberalization, to the detriment of the workers.
Consumers are buying imported goods because they are cheaper even as the quality is
better.
The Philippines government is selling off its assets including the profitable ones such as
a petroleum gas company and a water utility company.
Also, the government is trying to cut down on cost although it cannot even deliver the
most basic of social services.
There were those who were initially of the opinion that globalization are good for the
masses since prices of goods will go down. However, they late found out that prices have
not decreased. They also found out that local goods couldn't compete since imported ones
are simply too cheap.
Because they are paid in US dollars, it would seem that seafarers are earning a lot.
However, their pay is much lower than those from the developed countries and is even much
lower than their actual contribution.
Once they join unions, they will be immediately placed by
the placement agencies on the "blacklist". From then on, nobody will hire them.
However, there still those who are not afraid to join the union knowing that the
International Transport Federation will support them.
It is very difficult to organize since workers automatically associate unions with loss of
jobs. Thus, they do not trust in the union or in its ability to fight for their rights.
But at the same time, there are still a lot of workers who have faith in the ability of
unions to defend workers' rights. Still, the rate of unionization is very low. Workers
have less trust in unions, and are scared that they will lose their jobs should they join
unions.
Similarities
Privatization has become more rampant. Competition has intensified
Spin-off corporations: a corporation is divided into different corporations through the
process of spinning-off certain departments or functions and then incorporating them as
separate business entities.
The different countries are following the dictates of the IMF/WB, including the rules on
borrowing money and the corresponding conditionalities.
Unions maintain their strength and their ability to fight for workers' rights. If not for
the unions, perhaps all workers would have become casuals or contractuals.
Increase in unemployment, increase in the number of casual and contractual employees.
Many companies shift to modern technology, multi-skilling, job combination, and labor
flexibility - all to the prejudice of the workers.
Differences:
Unions can still be trusted to fight for workers rights and against globalization.
It seems that in the Philippines, it is easier for dismissed workers to move to the
informal sector.
Responses to some of the questions:
Labor organizing is very litigious in nature, thereby making it easy for employers to
employ legal maneuvers to bust the union or at least delay the collective bargaining
benefits.
At the enterprise level, unions continue be very influential.
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